Split lap preventer



Nov. 15, 1932. w. H. H AMES SPLIT LAP PREVENTER Filed July 30, 1931 INVENTOR.

BY y :1 ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 15, 1932 UNITED STATES WADE H. names, 025 GADSDEN, ALABAMA, ASSIGNOR To 'wm m uAcnIivn wonxs,

or WHITINSVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION or massaonosnrrs H sPLIrLAP raatamm.

Application filed my 30, 1931. Serial no. 554,066;

This invention relates to means for pre- It is the general object of my invention to provide improved means for effectively preventing such splitting of a lap or layer of fibre, by providing means for producing grooves or corrugations in one surface of the lap, which grooves or corrugations afford a distinct separating surface between adjacent lap layers.

A further object of the invention is to provide a construction in which the s lit lap preventing devices automatically ad ust themselves to variations in thickness of the la lltly invention further relates to arrangements and combinations of parts which will be hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

A preferred form of the invention is shown in the drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a sectional side elevation of a portion of a cotton picker and lapper;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of certain parts, looking in the direction of the arrow 2 in Fig. 1, and

Fig. 3 is a sectional side elevation, taken along the line 33 in Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawing, I have shown portions of a cotton picker and lapper, comprising a frame 10 in which is rotatably supported a cage roll 11, stripper rolls 12, a series of calender rolls 14, and feed rolls 15 on which a lap roller 16 is supported.

The fibre F is drawn by suction through a passage 20 leading from the interior of the picker and passes over the cage roll 11 and between the stripper rolls 12 in the usual manner.

The cage roll and stripper rolls are preferably mounted in a separate compartment 22, from which the air is exhausted by a fan 23. The fibre is passed from the stripper rolls 12 to the calender rolls 14, by which it is compressed intothe form a lap is thereafter wound around the lap roller 16.

My improved split lap preventing devices are mounted between the stripper rolls 12 and the first pair of calender r0lls'14, and comprise a series'of fingers 30, positioned substantially parallel to the path'of travel ofthe fibre F and extending 'nto' the bight' of the first or upper calender rolls 14. g V

The fingers: 30 are preferably formed fromseparate wire ro'ds' resting on-a crossbar32, which is notched or grooved to laterally space and position the fingers 30. A weightW in the form ofa relativelyheavy cylindricalbar is mounted on arms 34secured in-the cross.

bar. 32. The outerends of the fingers 30 are bent to partially encircle the weight W and are'thu's held in assembled relation.

the opposite sides of the frame 10 of the machine, and the series offingers 30 form a rocking grid or grating, with the-free ends of the fingers yieldingly pressed upward-by gravity against the-under surface of the upper calender roll 14.

As the fibre F passes overthe fingers .30 and between the upperpair of calender rolls 14, the portions offibreengaged by the fingers are compressed firmly against the u-p- 5 per calender roll, thus producing grooves or corrugations in the under surfac'e of the lap.

It is found in actual use that these grooves or corrugations are effective and satisfactory in providinga distinct separating surface between successive layers of the lap or fibre in the l-ap'roll. Consequently when the-lap is unwound, objectionable splitting of the lap is avoided; e

Furthermore, it will be noted that the Having thus described my invention and I the advantages thereof, I do not wish to be limited to the details herein disclosed, otherwise than as set forth inthe claims, but what I claim is 5 '1. In a cotton picker and lapper, in combination, stripper rolls, calender rolls, and devices mounted vbetween said stripper rolls and said calender rolls effective to prevent splitting of the lap, said devices comprising a plurality of laterally spaced parallel fingers, a freely'pivoted support for all of said fingers,and means acting on and through said support and thereby eflective to move the free ends of said fingers yieldingly and collectively toward the under surface of the upper calender roll thereby pressing the lap against said upper roll along laterally spaced lines and producing grooves or corrugations in the under surface of the lap, the pressure of. the fingers against the lap being substan tially uniform and independent of variations in lap thickness. a a r 2. Ina cotton picker'and lapper, in combination, stripper rolls, calenderrolls,.and devices mounted between said stripper rolls and said calender rolls effective to prevent splitting of the lap, said devices comprising a plurality of laterally spaced parallel fingers, a freelypivoted support for all of said fingers, anda weight acting on said support and thereby effective tomove the free ends of all of said fingers yieldingly toward the under surface of the upper calender roll,

- thereby pressing the lap against said upper roll along laterally spaced lines and produc-' ing grooves or corrugations in the under surface of the lap, the pressure of the fingers against the lap being substantially uniform and independent of variations in lap thickness. 1 i

V 3. The combination in a cotton picker and lapper as set-forth in claim 2, in which each fingeris formed from a single piece of wire rod with its free end extending into the bight of the upper pair of calender rolls, and in which the weight is in the form of an elongated bar around which the opposite ends of all of said fingers are secured.

I 4. The combination in a cotton picker and lapper as set forth inclai1n2, in which the fingers are formed of wire rods extending over and supported bysaid pivoted support in positions substantially parallel to the path of movement of the cotton fibre, and in which the weight is in the form of an elongated bar mounted on arms extending from said pivoted support, the free ends of said fingers extending into the bight of the upper pair of calender rolls, and the opposite endsof said fingers being looped about said weight'ba-r.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixedmy signature. I i y WADE H. HAMES. 

